FEAR FACTOR
When our fear speaks it’s often in the form of a question rooted
in our deepest doubt...
or is it?
“Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Mark 4:38
So here’s the back-story-
or is it?
“Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Mark 4:38
So here’s the back-story-
Jesus had just finished teaching on the shores of the Galilee. He called His disciples together and shared the plan-We’re going over to the other side of the lake. So during the course of the trip, Jesus fell asleep. As was the natural tendency of this lake, a sudden storm blew down from the surrounding mountains and this trip went from commonplace to chaos in a matter of minutes. The disciples were overcome by terror as the winds and rain caused the sea to rage. They responded to both the fear of the storm (the known) and their uncertain outcome (the unknown) with waves of doubt more fierce than those produced by the squall. Their fear revealed the dire condition of their hearts as they were swayed more by their circumstances than the words Jesus had just spoken: “Let US go over to the other side.”
The Master's use of the inclusive pronoun, “us”, indicated that ALL of them would be indeed make it to the other side. And yet, His Word was shouted down by the commotion of the wind causing their faith to be shown for what it was; little, untested and about to fail.
Do your fears, both known and unknown shout down the Word of Promise we have in Jesus Christ? Do your circumstances cause your doubtful hearts to shout the same question to our Master, “Lord, don’t you care?”
Beloved, was it doubt that caused the disciples to apparently abandon all hope? Or did those men in the boat have faith? I believe the answer is that they had faith but Jesus was stretching it-Stretching it to the point of absolute dependency upon the One who could calm the storm.
The fact that Jesus was sleeping during the storm is not as important as the action the disciples took by desperately calling out to Him: This Jesus, who was at rest was awakened and brought His rest into their reality-He will do likewise in yours. Our Lord rebukes the tempest the same as He rebukes the fever (Luke 4:39) because He is Lord over both the great and small things of life.
So in the midst of your next storm, as you desperately call out to Jesus wondering where He is, remember His words to you:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27…
Be blessed in your stretching!
The Master's use of the inclusive pronoun, “us”, indicated that ALL of them would be indeed make it to the other side. And yet, His Word was shouted down by the commotion of the wind causing their faith to be shown for what it was; little, untested and about to fail.
Do your fears, both known and unknown shout down the Word of Promise we have in Jesus Christ? Do your circumstances cause your doubtful hearts to shout the same question to our Master, “Lord, don’t you care?”
Beloved, was it doubt that caused the disciples to apparently abandon all hope? Or did those men in the boat have faith? I believe the answer is that they had faith but Jesus was stretching it-Stretching it to the point of absolute dependency upon the One who could calm the storm.
The fact that Jesus was sleeping during the storm is not as important as the action the disciples took by desperately calling out to Him: This Jesus, who was at rest was awakened and brought His rest into their reality-He will do likewise in yours. Our Lord rebukes the tempest the same as He rebukes the fever (Luke 4:39) because He is Lord over both the great and small things of life.
So in the midst of your next storm, as you desperately call out to Jesus wondering where He is, remember His words to you:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27…
Be blessed in your stretching!
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